Germany Designates New Areas at Risk for Tick-Borne Encephalitis

The German federal public health institute, Robert Koch Institute (RKI), has published an updated map of risk areas for tick-borne encephalitis (Frühsommer-Meningoenzephalitis, FSME). Two new regions have been added to the list: the district of Nordsachsen in Saxony and the independent city of Halle (Saale) in Saxony-Anhalt. With this update, the total number of German districts considered at risk for FSME has risen to 185. Tick-borne encephalitis (FSME) is a viral disease of the central nervous system transmitted primarily through bites from ticks of the species Ixodes ricinus. The first descriptions of the disease date back to the 1930s from Czechoslovakia and Austria. In Germany, the disease has been endemic for decades, with the first vaccines appearing in the 1970s and 1980s. The main clusters of risk areas are located in the southern and eastern states of Germany. These are primarily Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, southern Hesse, southeastern Thuringia, Saxony, southeastern Brandenburg, and the eastern part of Saxony-Anhalt. Isolated foci also occur in central Hesse, Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine-Westphalia. Particular emphasis in press communications is placed on the situation in Bavaria, where, with the exception of the city of Schweinfurt in Lower Franconia, virtually the entire state remains a high-risk zone. 185 — districts in Germany at risk for FSME The Bavarian Ministry of Health, referring to RKI data, provided detailed statistics on cases. In 2025, 282 FSME cases were reported in this state. Although this is less than the record-breaking 312 cases in 2024, it is still the second-highest figure since mandatory reporting of this disease was introduced. Bavaria's Minister of Health, Judith Gerlach of the CSU, emphasized the seriousness of the threat in her statement: „„Das FSME-Virus kann schwere Entzündungen von Gehirn und Hirnhäuten verursachen”” — Bavaria's Minister of Health, Judith Gerlach of the CSU. In her view, these numbers clearly indicate the necessity of full protection through vaccination. Precisely the low vaccination coverage constitutes a serious problem. As Minister Gerlach reported, only about 20% of adult residents of Bavaria are fully vaccinated against FSME. Among school-age children, the situation looks somewhat better – during examinations upon entry to primary school in the 2023/2024 school year, about 40% of them had completed the vaccination series. The Standing Committee on Vaccination (Ständige Impfkommission, STIKO) recommends vaccination for all persons living, working, or spending leisure time in risk areas. The full, basic vaccination cycle consists of three doses. The articles also remind readers of the difference between the two main tick-borne diseases. Lyme disease, caused by bacteria from the Borrelia spirochete group, occurs wherever ticks live and can be treated with antibiotics. There is no vaccine available for humans against it. FSME, on the other hand, is a viral disease for which an effective vaccine exists, but its occurrence is geographically limited to designated risk areas. Many FSME infections are asymptomatic or have mild flu-like symptoms. However, in some patients, the virus attacks the central nervous system, leading to meningitis, encephalitis, or myelitis, which is associated with serious, long-term health consequences. Number of FSME districts in main German states (approximate): Bavaria: ~100, Baden-Württemberg: ~45, Saxony: ~15, Thuringia: ~8, Brandenburg: ~5, Saxony-Anhalt: ~5, Hesse: ~5, Remaining states: ~2 In the RKI announcement and in press reports, it was clearly noted that designating a region as an FSME risk area serves primarily informational and preventive purposes. It is intended to raise awareness of the threat among residents and tourists and to encourage consideration of vaccination as a means of protection against a potentially severe disease. The map update is based on an analysis of case numbers in recent years and an assessment of local virus activity. Tick Season Timeline: March-April — Start of tick activity; May-June — Peak tick activity; September-October — Second peak of tick activity